I'm getting a new finesse rod and was going to use #8 pound braid with a #6 pound mono leader on the spinning reel. Do I need a backing line so the braid doesn't slip? Would 12lb be good or would in need to use the #6 pound mono. Thanks! -Cole

1 minute ago, colefarrow_ said:

I'm getting a new finesse rod and was going to use #8 pound braid with a #6 pound mono leader on the spinning reel. Do I need a backing line so the braid doesn't slip? Would 12lb be good or would in need to use the #6 pound mono. Thanks! -Cole

If it's a 'Braid Ready' spool (my President-25 is), it's still a good idea to put at least a couple layers of mono under the braid - or a single layer of electrical tape direct on the bare spool, then the braid on top of that.

I prefer a small piece of electrical tape, smooth and no knot.

Is it a shallow spool?  If not, my bigger concern (than slipping) would be having to put 300 yards of 8# braid on.  If spool is shallow, then like @roadwarriorsays, 'no knot'.

Electrical tape over the arbor knot every time. 

Agree with @Choporozhere about a few hundreds yds of braid to fill the whole spool, #8braid is about 2-4lb mono line. I normally use small mono 4-6lb line as backing, than plumbing tape on top to cover the knot. Depend on what spool size and how much main line do you need, you might have to spool to about 2/3 spool of backing. I even backing my shallow spool because I only use #4 nanofil on 2000 and #8 Nanofil on 2500.

Agree with the above. Run mono backing (any size) to fill up most of the spool, then top off with about 75-100 yds of the braid, depending. You'll cover any slipping issues, plus save a lot of braid that can be used to refill/replace at a later time.

Is the mono used as backing  for slipping or so you don’t have to use so much braid? What type knot do I use if I use mono for backing?

2 minutes ago, TCB said:

Is the mono used as backing  for slipping or so you don’t have to use so much braid?

Both.

Even on braid-ready spools, the braid can slip under tension. Something under the braid, be it mono backing or electrical tape grips the spool better preventing the slipping.

I personally like around 70-80 yds of braid, so I put enough backing on to give me a topped spool with that amount of braid.

5 minutes ago, TCB said:

What type knot do I use if I use mono for backing?

I use a double-uni, but any good braid-to-leader knot (FG, Alberto, etc) can be used to join the lines.

When you say top off the spool, does that mean fill it completely ?  

2 minutes ago, TCB said:

When you say top off the spool, does that mean fill it completely ?  

For a spinning reel - to just where it starts to curve over...usually about 1/8" from the edge. Don't fill it right to the rim.

I'm new at using backing and had an issue trying to figure out how much backing to spool on my spinning reel (purpose is to save line).

 

Sometimes when I cast my line gets caught on the knot while coming off the spool, right toward the end of my cast. Obviously I used too much backing and the knot is exposed.

 

Do you guys just guess on how much backing to use, or are you that familiar with your reels, or do you measure out line somehow and go by the reel specs? Like if a reel holds 150 yds of 8 pound mono you could figure out how much feet of backing you'd need. Maybe use the reels feet-per-turn to measure as you crank? 

 

With this reel I now know about how much backing to use due to my own trial and error. Next time I'll get it right. Just curious.